Truck drivers from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia began blocking freight terminals at several Balkan border crossings on January 26 at 12 p.m., in protest against the introduction of a new EU system at border checkpoints. Among them are Borislav Popovi\u0107 and Ne\u0111o Mandi\u0107, positioned at the Batrovci and Ba\u010dka Palanka crossings. In an interview with Nova, they explain how the blockade is unfolding, how many truckers are involved, how long it will last, and why the new EU system is unacceptable for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Experienced Drivers Leading the Protest<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Borislav Popovi\u0107 from Ba\u010dka Palanka has been driving trucks for decades. He is currently at the Ba\u010dka Palanka border crossing and is a member of the so-called Truckers\u2019 Crisis Staff organizing the blockade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo our eyes, the blockade has succeeded so far. The new EU system being implemented is bad for us and our work, which is why we took action,\u201d Popovi\u0107 told Nova.rs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll border crossings used by freight trucks are literally closed. Today is the second day. I wish I could say it\u2019s the last, but it\u2019s not. The blockade will probably continue. There have been some positive reactions from the European Commission, which is good for us, but we\u2019ll see how it develops,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He emphasizes that none of them are certain whether the proposed solutions from the European Commission will benefit truckers, which is why they remain at the borders until everything is received in writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Limited Passage Allowed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Popovi\u0107 says only a very small amount of goods are being allowed through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnly imported medicines, live animals, possibly explosives, dialysis equipment, and any goods that can be justified as urgent can pass. Our Crisis Staff of four decides on these matters,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some truckers live close to the border, while others are up to 300 kilometers away, forcing them to sleep in their trucks. Despite the difficulties, they are determined not to abandon the blockade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Organized Shifts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have six-to-eight-hour shifts, with properly marked marshals wearing vests and badges so colleagues know their shifts in advance. If food or water is needed, anyone who can helps.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the Ba\u010dka Palanka crossing, 14 trucks are currently participating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur goal was not to mass trucks. We didn\u2019t want to bring hundreds of trucks and endanger residents or increase police workload. We went with the minimum number necessary to break the supply chain, not to show force or create unnecessary chaos. The police coordinate with our marshals if problems arise, but so far, there has been no need. We also printed flyers in multiple languages for foreign drivers stuck in the protest lanes to keep them informed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Popovi\u0107, the European Commission recognized truck drivers as a special group in a written statement, which they view as significant progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey said they are monitoring the situation and supposedly working on a kind of visa package for special groups like drivers and athletes. We hope this goes in the right direction, because professional athletes face similar issues as we do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why Truckers Oppose the New EU System<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Popovi\u0107 explained that the new EU system at border crossings is problematic for truckers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPreviously, the Schengen border was the border of Germany. It took us two days of driving to enter that zone. You enter Germany, load and unload in a day, and in two days you\u2019re out of Schengen again. Now, with the expanded borders, we\u2019re already in the EU and Schengen as soon as we start our route. We spend much more time in Schengen than before. If they expanded the territory, they should have proportionally increased the number of days for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Determined Despite Heavy Losses<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The truckers are determined, even though the blockade carries heavy and incalculable costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis costs us a lot, of course, but we have no other choice. We won\u2019t send our drivers to be treated like clay pigeons and arrested \u2014 not even if it takes a month or two at the borders. There\u2019s no choice. No one will cross to be arrested anymore. Recently, driver arrests have become frequent, which is unacceptable. Migrants receive housing, social benefits, healthcare, and assistance in cities, while our drivers, who transport their goods, are arrested. It\u2019s absurd,\u201d Popovi\u0107 told Nova.rs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ne\u0111o Mandi\u0107 added that drivers should be left alone to do their jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUntil a new acceptable rule is introduced, let drivers work. We will continue our actions, but if we get guarantees that drivers can safely do their jobs, we will stop the protests. This affects all Western Balkan drivers, not just Serbian ones,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where the Blockades Are<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Serbian police on January 26, border crossings blocked include routes to Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia: Batrovci, \u0160id, Bogojevo, Ba\u010dka Palanka, Ne\u0161tin, Bezdan, Horgo\u0161, Kelebija, Vr\u0161ka \u010cuka, Gradina, Strezimirovci, Srpska Crnja, Vatin, Kalu\u0111erovo, and Pre\u0161evo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have 17 border crossings and four administrative crossings to Kosovo. All of us \u2014 transporters from Serbia, Montenegro, BiH, and North Macedonia \u2014 started the blockade at the same time with the same demands,\u201d Mandi\u0107 said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Economic Damage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to the border blockade and the inability to export goods, Balkan countries are suffering direct losses estimated at \u20ac100 million, said Marko \u010cade\u017e, president of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS), to Radio Television of Serbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDirect losses for Serbia amount to \u20ac55 million,\u201d he added. Companies that fail to export on time face penalties ranging from \u20ac10,000 to \u20ac50,000 per day, \u010cade\u017e noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SERBIAN BISHOP GAVE A SPEECH BEFORE THE AMERICAN VICE PRESIDENT: Irinej opened the \u201cMarch for Life\u201d with a prayer, then gave the podium to J.D. Vance! 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